Fence and fence post structure



y 1956 c. R. POTTS 2,744,729

FENCE AND FENCE POST STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 25. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1956 c. R. POTTS FENCE AND FENCE POST STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1954 nited States Patent Otfice 2,744,729 Patented May 8, 1956 FENCE AND FENCE POST STRUCTURE Charles R. Potts, Merlin, Oreg.

Application August 23, 1954, Serial No. 451,447

1 Claim. (Cl. 256-59) This invention relates to improvements in rail fences and fence posts therefor.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a fence post which may be securely anchored to the ground and a plurality of vertically spaced-apart rails secured to the post in vertical alignment with each other or in any angular variations therefrom and the provision of means for locking the rails in any of said positions to each other and to the fence post.

The foregoing and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a rail fence made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure l.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary top plan views and Figure 5 a fragmentary front view of modified forms of the invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a fence post and supporting base therefor with the base in section.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a typical intersection of the rails shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a front view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail view of a locking plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

The rails shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 7 and 8 are preferably, though not necessarily, made of 2 x 4s, and each is apertured near both of its ends as shown for stacked and secure engagement with the typical fence post and its support shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rails of one series as indicated by reference numeral 2 may be angularly related in plan view to those in an adjoining series indicated at 3 and vertically staggered with respect to each other as shown in Figure 2, or they may be arranged in vertical alignment as shown in Figure 3. If desired, some series of rails may be provided with apertures intermediate their ends as indicated at 4 for cooperative engagement with intermediate fence posts and the ends of branch series of rails arranged perpendicular or otherwise to the first mentioned series.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4 the main series of rails 2A and 3A are laterally spaced apart and interconnected at their ends by cross rails 5,

In Figure 5 the adjacent end portions of the rails are reduced in thickness to provide apertured lap joints 6 'post.

for engagement with each other and with the fence The rails may be vertically spaced apart 'by a spacer block 7 or stacked as shown.

The fence post and its support, as best illustrated in Figure 6, comprise a hollow molded concrete or cement base 20 preferably of pyramidal form and provided with inwardly and downwardly extending apertures 21 through which stages 22 are passed and driven into the ground for anchoring the post in any desired location. The fence post proper comprises a rod 23 threaded as at 24 at its top end and turned outwardly at its bottom end to prevent it from turning when embedded in the concrete or cement 25 with which the base 20 is filled after being anchored to the ground as aforesaid.

For locking the rails in vertical alignment with each other as shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8 and to reinforce the fence post I embed the bottom end portion of an angle iron 26 in the cement of the base block. For locking the angle iron to the post I provide a number of locking plates 27 each formed with openings 28 and 29 to fit down over the angle iron and post, respectively. The rails and plates 27 are secured to each other by a nut threaded to the top end of the post as shown.

While I have shown and described particular forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A fence post and supporting base therefor, adapted to support a plurality of elongated horizontal fence rails stacked one upon the other and having aligned vertical openings formed therethrough near the end of each of said rails, said supporting base comprising a moulded concrete block adapted to rest upon the ground, a pair of stakes extending diagonally through opposite sides and outwardly from the bottom of said block for anchoring the block to the ground, said fence post comprising a vertical rod turned outwardly at its bottom end and embedded within the base block whereby the rod will be locked against rotation with respect to the base or removal therefrom, the top end of the rod being screw threaded, an angle iron substantially equal in length to thelength of said rod and embedded at its bottom end in said base block and arranged parallel throughout its length to said rod, a plurality of locking plates for locking said angle iron in said parallel relation to the rod, each of said plates having a triangular opening and a circular opening formed therethrough for engagement, respectively, with said angle iron and said rod, and each of said plates being adapted to be arranged between the overlapping ends of said rails and locked therebetween by a nut advanced on said threaded end of the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 72,113 Sweigert Dec. 10, 1867 925,940 McClintock June 22, 1909 2,603,456 Ruopp July 15, 1952 

